Removable wall construction



July 25, 1967 R. EKsTRoM 3,332,190

REMOVABLE WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed April 9, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet l July 25, 1967 R. EKsTRoM 3,332,190

REMOVABLE WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed April 9, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

POB/PT 5K5 TEO/W N o0 BY R. EKSTROM REMOVABLE WALL CONSTRUCTION July 25, 1967 v5 Sheets-Sheet 5 A Filed April 9, 1965 INVENTOR.

PDBEPT .EKS TEO/M United States Patent O 3,332,190 REMOVABLE WALL CONSTRUCTION Robert Ekstrom, 7364 Via Capri, La Jolla, Calif. 94020 Filed Apr. 9, 1965, Ser. No. 446,969 6 Claims. (Cl. 52-464) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE `Removable wall sections or partitions employing studs and panels, .and inserts for removably maintaining the wall sections in position and for concealing the studs. The wall sections are disposed above the base for supporting the panels, and resilient clips, pivotally carried by the b-ase, resiliently maintain the top and bottom of the cove bases in position.

The present invention relates to movable pa-rtitions or wall sections for dividing floor space into a plurality of rooms.

Usually a plurality of studs are used and these studs are spanned by panels. In one aspect of the present invention, one end of a panel is removably maintained in position by one of the studs and the opposite end of the panel is provided with a reverse bend por-tion forming a slot. Another panel has one end removably maintained by another stud and extends toward the -first mentioned stud. The end of the second mentioned panel opposite that end which is removably maintained by the stud, has a portion or a flange which extends into the slot of the first mentioned panel. These panels may extend in the same plane.

Supporting means in the for-m of pedestals support the panels from the floor. A vertically extending cove base extends along the bottom edges of the panels and a movable clip is fastened to the pedestals and is interposed between the pedestals and the cove base for removably retaining the cove base in position. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the movable clips are pivotally mounted on the pedestals.

In -another aspect of the invention, the stud includes spaced flanges which are connected by a yoke. One end of the panel is provided with a reverse bend por-tion and this reverse bend portion is ldisposed alongside of one of the flanges of the stud. An insert s-pans the space between the two flanges of the stud and the insert is provided with a flange which extends into the slot formed by the reverse bend portion of the panel. Also in this embodiment, the two panels are connected with one another in the same manner as aforesaid, namely, one of the panels is provided with a -reverse bend portion to provide a slot and the other panel is provided with a flange which extends into the slot. The insert and the panels lie in the same plane.

`Other features and the advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the .accompanying drawing, wherein preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

In the drawing:

FIG. l is a fragmentary view of a partition or wall;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2 2 of FIG. l, but on a larger scale and also the thickness of the metal parts are materially increased for the purpose of more clearly showing the interconnections between metal parts;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of FIG. 2, but on a larger scale;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a part shown in FIG. 2, but on a larger scale;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5 5 of FIG. 2, but turned ninety degrees;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the floor channel, a pedestal, a retaining clip and a cove base and also showing the panel in phantom;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the channel and the steel brackets for supporting the studs;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8 8 of FIG. 2 and rotated ninety degrees; and

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but shows another embodiment of the invention.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the partition is drawn as shown at 20 and includes a U-shaped floor channel 22 which rests upon the floor 24. A series of hollow rectangular pedestals 26 rest within the channel 22 and these pedestals support the panels.

The studs are shown at 28. They are carried above the channel 22 by steel L-shaped brackets 30` and 32. The brackets are arranged in pairs as is more clearly shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 and each is provided with a foot 34 and an upright 36. The feet 34 are supported by the horizontal portion 38 of the floor channel 22.

The stud 28 is H-shaped in cross section including two pairs of flanges, one flange of one pair being indicated at 40 and the other flange of the other pair is indicated at 42. The other two .flanges are shown at 44 and 46. The flanges 44 and 46 are connected with one another by a yoke 48. The uprights 36 of the steel brackets are suitably welded to the yoke 40 of a stud. The stud 28 may be formed of steel in any suitable manner and is of the standard type found on the market in which the stud is formed from a sheet of metal bent as shown.

The partitions are for a building designed on required modu-les. As an example, module including two posts and connecting panels are five feet from center line to center line of the posts or studs. In the illustration herein, both sides of the partition are finis-hed in sheet metal and two panels are disposed between two posts or studs on each side of the partition. The two sheet -metal panels on one side of the partition are shown 4at 50 and 52 while the sheet metal panels on the opposite side of the partition are shown .at 54 and 56. Referring first to panel 50, shown in FIG. 2, it will be seen that one end thereof is provided with a reverse bend portion 58 which extends into the stud 28 and lies alongside of the flange 46. This reverse bend portion provides a slot 60. The opposite end of this panel 50 is also provided with a reverse bend portion 62 which provides a slot 64. The right end of steel panel 52 extends within Vthe stud 28 and alongside of the flan-ge 44 and it is provided with a reverse bend portion 66 which provides a slot 68. The opposite or left end of steel panel 52 is provided with a flange 70 which extends into the slot 64 of the panel 50. This same description applies to panels 54 and 56 on the opposite side of the partition.

The slots 60 and 68 of the reverse bend portions 58 and 66 receive the flanges 72 and 74 of a steel insert 76. The outer faces of the panels 50, 52 and the inserts 76 lie in the same plane whereby the face of the partition is flush throughout the entire length thereof and the studs are concealed. v

Sheets of gypsum board 78, and 82 are interposed between the panels 50 and 52 on one side of the partition and panels 54 and 56 on the opposite side of the partition. If desirable, the gypsum board 78 can be glued or suitably ladhered to the inside faces of the panels 50 4and 52 and likewise the gypsum board 82 can be suitably adhered lto the panels 54 and 56.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 5 and 6, it will be seen that the pedestals 26 carry movable clips 84. These movable clips are preferably pivotally mounted upon screws 86 and are formed of resilient material. Cove bases 88 are removably held in place by the clips 84. These cove bases extend above the bottom of the panels so as to conceal the lower edge of the panels. Each of the upper ends of the cove bases 88 is provided with flanges 90 which extend downwardly and inwardly from the upper edge of the face section of the base and which are hooked behind the upper ends of the clips 84. Likewise, each of the lower ends of these bases is provided with flanges 92 which extend upwardly and inwardly from the lower edge of the face section of the base and which are also hooked behind the clips 84. Thus, the bottom and top of the cove base are held in position. It will be observed that the lower ends 94 of the clips 84 extend outwardly and downwardly. To install the cove base, the flange 92 of the cove base is inserted between the end 94 of the clip 84 and then the cove base is lifted so that the flange clears the upper part of the clip S4 and after clearing the upper end of the clip, the cove base is pushed downwardly in position so that the flange 90 rests between the steel panels and the upper end of the clip. To remove the cove base, it is necessary only to force the same outwardly, the clip 84 being sufficiently resilient to permit the lower end of the flange 90 to clear the upper end of the clip. After the cove panel is removed, the clip can be moved to a position in which it is out of line with the panel and then the panel together with the gypsum board attached thereto can be moved outwardly by pulling outwardly on the panel. By pulling outwardly on the panels 50 and 52, they may be removed from the partition. It is desirable to first remove the insert 76 prior to removing the panels 50 and 52 from the partition. The panels, for example, 50 and 52, can be readily separated from one another since a panel is merely held frictionally in position by the reverse bend portion 62 of the panel 50.

Thus, it is apparent from the foregoing that the panels can be readily removed for replacement in the event one should become marred.

FIG. 3 shows construction for attaching a partition at right angles to another partition. In this embodiment, two sheets of metal 96 and 98 are provided, each of which is provided with reverse bend portions 100 and 102, respectively, which receive the flanges 104 and 106, respectively, of transversely disposed panels 108 and 110. The sheet metal 96 extends alongside of the inner side of the flange 40 and the sheet metal 98 extends alongside of a flange 112 on a panel 54. These sheet metal retaining elements are inserted in position after an insert 114 has been placed in position or the insert may be suitably fastened as by welding, to the sheet metal retaining elements 96 and 98 prior to insertion between the flanges 40 and 42 of the post or stud 28.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, there the stud 28 has been turned ninety degrees from that shown in the previously described embodiment. The sheet metal panels are shown at 150, 152, 154 and 156. Panels 154 and 150 are provided with reverse bend portions 162 to provide slots 164 which receive the flanges 170 of the panels 152 and 156. For example, after the left end of panel 150 is inserted into the stud 28 and the right end of panel 152 is inserted into the next adjacent `stud 28, then the panels may be fastened to one another by inserting the flange 170 of panel 152 into the slot 164 of the panel 150. Thereafter, the cove base is added. To remove a set of panels, it is necessary only to remove the cove base and then pull outwardly upon the panel 152 to separate the flange 170 from the slot 164, the gypsum being sufliciently resilient to permit the angular displacement of the panel and the gypsum board carried thereby. Thus, by the present construction, a panel can be readily replaced in the event that it is marred.

As previously set forth, the thickness of the metal parts are materially exaggerated for illustrative purpose only. For example, the stud flanges 46 have a width of approximately one and three-quarter inches and are formed of eighteen gauge sheet steel and the metal panels and inserts are formed of sheet steel of between twenty-two and twenty-six gauge.

While the forms of embodiment herein shown and described constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other forms may be adopted falling within the scope of the claims that follow.

I claim:

1. A wall section comprising in combination:

(A) two studs;

(B) panel supporting means;

(C) a panel supported by and above the means and having one end removably maintained by one of the studs,

(1) the panel having a reverse bend portion at the opposite end thereof forming a slot;

(D) a second panel supported by and above the means and having one end removably maintained by the other of said studs,

(1) said second panel having a portion at the opposite end thereof extending into the slot of the first mentioned panel;

(E) a vertically extending cove base extending along and above the bottom edges of the panels, said cove base including:

(1) an outer face section;

(2) a downwardly and inwardly extending flange at the upper portion of the face section;

(3) an upwardly and inwardly extending flange at the bottom of the face section;

(F) a resilient clip having:

(l) an end portion extending between the upper flange and face section of the cove base;

(2) an end portion extending between the lower flange and the face section of the cove base;

(G) means for pivotally mounting the resilient clip on the panel supporting means below the lower edge of the panel.

2. A wall section comprising in combination:

(A) a stud, said stud having:

(1) space flanges,

(2) and a connecting yoke;

(B) a panel, said panel having:

`(l) a reverse bend portion at one end, said reverse bend portion extending within the stud and alongside one of the flanges, said reverse bend portion forming a slot;

(C) and means for removably maintaining the panel at the stud and for concealing the stud, which means consists of an insert having:

(1) a portion substantially spanning the space between the spaced flanges of the stud,

(2) and a flange extending at right angles to said portion and extending into the slot of the reverse bend portion of the panel;

(3) a second flange extending at right angles to said portion and extending into and disposed alongside the other flange of the stud.

3. A wall section as defined in claim 2, characterized in that the panel and first mentioned portion of the insert lie in the same plane.

4. A wall section comprising in combination:

(A) a stud, said stud being H-shaped in formation forming:

(1) a pair of aligned flanges,

(2) a second pair of aligned flanges,

(3) a yoke connecting the pairs of flanges,

(B) two parallely arranged panels, each of said panels having:

(1) a reverse bend portion at one end, the reverse bend portion of one of said panels extending within the stud and alongside of one of the flanges of one of the pair of aligned flanges, and the reverse bend portion of the other of said panels extending within the stud and alongside of the other of the flanges of the said one pair of aligned anges, each of said reverse bend portions forming a slot;

(C) and means for removably maintaining the panels `at the stud and for concealingv the stud, which means consists of two inserts, one of said inserts,

(1) having a portion substantially spanning the space between a ange of one of the pair of iianges and a flange of the other pair of iianges,

(2) and having a iange extending at right angles to said portion and extending into the slot of one of said panels;

(D) the second insert,

(1) having a portion substantially spanning the space between the other ange of the said other pair of flanges,

(2) and having a flange extending at right angles to said portion and extending into the slot of the other panel.

5. A Wall section as defined in claim 4, characterized in that the rst mentioned insert includes:

a second flange extending into and alongside of said flange of the said other pair of flanges; and further characterized in that the second mentioned insert includes:

a second ange extending into and alongside of said other ange of said other pair of iianges.

6. A wall section as defined in claim 5, characterized in that the first mentioned panel and the first mentioned portion of the first mentioned insert lie in the same plane, and the second mentioned panel yand the irst mentioned portion of the second mentioned panel lie in the same plane.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,757,763 5/ 1930 Betzler 52-5 88 X 2,397,940 4/ 1946 Benham 52--588 X 2,529,648 11/ 1950 Borton 52-496 X 2,730,209 1/ 1956 Larson 52--272 2,822,898 2/ 1958 Richards 52-471 2,998,108 8/ 1961 Stoner et al 52-732 3,027,605 4/ 1962 Nels-son 52-241 FOREIGN PATENTS 647,272 7/ 1937 Germany.

FRANK L. ABBOTT', Primary Examiner.

R. S. VERMUT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A WALL SECTION COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) TWO STUDS; (B) PANEL SUPPORTING MEANS; (C) A PANEL SUPPORTED BY AND ABOVE THE MEANS AND HAVING ONE END REMOVABLY MAINTAINED BY ONE OF THE STUDS, (1) THE PANEL HAVING A REVERSE BEND PORTION AT THE OPPOSITE END THEREOF FORMING A SLOT; (D) A SECOND PANEL SUPPORTED BY AND ABOVE THE MEANS AND HAVING ONE END REMOVABLY MAINTAINED BY THE OTHER OF SAID STUDS, (1) SAID SECOND PANEL HAVING A PORTION AT THE OPPOSITE END THEREOF EXTENDING INTO THE SLOT OF THE FIRST MENTIONED PANEL; (E) A VERTICALLY EXTENDING COVE BASE EXTENDING ALONG AND ABOVE THE BOTTOM EDGES OF THE PANELS, SAID COVE BASE INCLUDING: (1) AN OUTER FACE SECTION; (2) A DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGE AT THE UPPER PORTION OF THE FACE SECTION; (3) AN UPWARDLY AND INWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FACE SECTION; (F) A RESILIENT CLIP HAVING: 